We evaluated 176 normal controls (NC) ♂=126. 47 prepubertal children(PP) and 79 pubertal children (P) and ♀=50 (18 PP and 32 P). 24 patients with non somatotropic short stature (SS) ♂-14 (12 PP. 2 P) and♀-10 (6 PP. 4 P) were also evaluated. The NC had normal stature. growth velocity (GV) and bone age (BA) with an age range between 2.3-13.2 yr. for the PP group and 9.1-19 yr. for the P group. The SS had a height below 2 SDS. GV<percentile 10 and BA delayed in 1 or 2 yr. Two somatotropic reserve tests were performed (clonidine and exercise plus propanolol) with GH>10ng/ml. In SS. the age range was 4.7-13 yr. for PP and 10.4-15 yr. for P. Measurements of IGF-1 (on acid-ethanol extracted serum) and IGFBP3 (BP3)(IRMA). tetosterone (T) and estradiol (E) (RLA) were performed at 8 am. Statistical treatment (Mann-Whitney): the NC PP vs P for each sex. and SS vs control group made up of NC matched by sex and Tanner (PP vs PP and P vs P). The NC showed median and range values. IGF-1 (ng/ml): ♂.PP=114 (9-506) and P=320 (43-632). p<0.001: ♀. PP=60 (43-502) and P=335(39-580), p<0.001. BP3(μg ml): ♂. PP=3,0(1.3-4.7) and P=4,1(1.9-7.5). p<0.001: ♀, PP=3.0(1.3-4.3) and P=4.0(1.6-5.8). p<0.01. IGF-1/BP3 molar ratio (MR); ♂. PP=0.15 (0.005-0.490) and P=0.27(0.01-0.86). p<0.001:♀. PP=0.09(0.05-0.53) and P=0.28(0.04-1.06). p<0.02. In SS the IGF-1 was: PP. ♂=107(13-184) and ♀=63(34-106): P. ♂(n=2)=210 and 500 and ♀=171 (55-160). BP3: PP. ♂=2.8(1.9-5.4) and ♀=3.4(2.3-3.9); P. ♂(n=2)= 4.5 and 4.5 and ♀=2.7 (2.5-4.8). MR: PP. ♂=0.11(0.02-0.82) and ♀=0.07(0.05-0.11); P. ♂ (n=2)=0.17 and 0.41 and♀=0.17(0.07-0.67). No significant differences were found in IGF-1, BP3 and MR between SS and matched control group. The number of males in NC group allowed us to classify then according to Tanner stages (median and range).Table

Table 1
Full size table

No linear correlation was found between the values of T and those of IGF-1. Bp3 and MR. Conclusions: In the pubertal NC of both sexes an increase in IGF-1. BP3 and MR was found (in ♂ apparent as from stage III). The increase in MR could be related to a grenter IGF-1 activity. In the case of the SS, the IGF-1 and BP3 levels did not allow us to classify them as a distinct subgroup.